Reflections and Warnings from PBSA Europe 2025
Attending the PBSA Europe Conference this year confirmed what many of us in the screening industry already know: qualification fraud is not going away, it’s evolving and embedding itself deeper into the global employment ecosystem. As hiring practices become more competitive and digital tools become more sophisticated, so too do the tactics used by candidates seeking to bypass verification processes.
A 2025 CIFAS Fraud Behaviours Survey revealed an alarming truth:
- 1 in 5 people admit to lying about having a university degree to secure a job.
- 14% believe it’s reasonable to exaggerate qualifications.
- Shockingly, most employees wouldn’t report a dishonest colleague, even if they knew about the misrepresentation.
This silent tolerance creates a culture of risk within organisations, particularly when trust is not balanced with control.
The recent case of Tanya Nasir in the UK highlighted just how damaging fraudulent qualifications can be. Employed in a senior administrative role in the healthcare sector, Tanya fabricated her academic background and managed to work undetected for years. Her deception not only compromised the integrity of the organisation but also posed significant regulatory and reputational risks.
The healthcare sector remains the most affected by fraudulent qualifications in the UK, a concerning reality, given the direct impact on human lives and safety
Qualification fraud is not limited to one country or industry. According to Forbes, the global fake qualification industry is worth an estimated $7.5 billion. This includes:
- Diploma mills: Institutions that sell degrees with little or no academic work required.
- Flipped institution names: Examples include people claiming to graduate from “Surrey University” instead of the legitimate “University of Surrey”, exploiting subtle name changes to evade detection.
- Entirely fake universities: These have no physical campus, no staff, and no recognition, yet issue slick digital degrees that appear credible at first glance.
At a time when AI tools can create fake documents within minutes and websites can generate authentic-looking diplomas with verifiable-looking seals and signatures, qualification fraud is becoming harder to detect, and easier to perpetrate.
This is not just a compliance issue. It’s a question of:
- Trust within the workforce
- Fairness in recruitment
- Risk mitigation for the employer
- And, in regulated industries, public safety
The Way Foward
- Verification is non-negotiable: Employers must verify every qualification for every candidate, no exceptions.
- Awareness and education: HR teams and hiring managers should be trained to spot red flags, such as altered transcripts, inconsistencies in educational timelines, and unverifiable institutions.
- Adopt advanced technology: Use verification and AI-supported credential checks to identify anomalies.
- Global partnerships: Collaborate with international verification bodies to ensure foreign qualifications are checked with the same rigour as local ones.
- Build a culture of integrity: Encourage internal reporting and ensure whistleblowers are protected and taken seriously.
As screening professionals, we have an obligation to safeguard the integrity of the hiring process. Qualification fraud may be widespread, but it is detectable, preventable, and prosecutable. With vigilance, technology, and the right policies in place, we can help clients build workforces they can truly trust.
